A Christian Empire? 

Part 2 of 7 

     The author says fifth-century Christians viewed Rome as a Christian empire. Many American Christians claim that the U.S. was founded to be a City of God, rather than another City of Man. Our founders did find inspiration from the Bible while crafting our Constitution. And Christianity thrived. 

     Eight decades later, Christian northerners and Christian southerners killed each other over the life of our man-centered government.

     Augustine reminded his readers that Jesus is the world's last, best hope and the Church is the shining city. Not man-centered government. Politics cannot deliver what God someday will create. 

     The "city of God" is found in Psalm 87, along with the gates of Zion and ... the Most High himself will establish her. Not Washington, man or city.

     Meanwhile, the "city of man seeks to establish itself through pride and self-sufficiency." Augustine worked on his book for 15 years, exploring these two "cities" in a thousand pages, cover to cover. 

     "In the fourth century, many Christians began to view Rome as the locus (location) for the promised kingdom of God. This new empire would usher in the millennial reign of Jesus." 

     "When Goths sacked Rome, political structures began to unravel. Pagan critics of Christianity pounced. Many, rich and distinguished, blamed Rome's fall on those who failed to honor the gods they claimed had protected Rome for almost a thousand years. The Christian God wasn't up to the task." 

     "Augustine, in The City of God, assaults Rome's religion. He recounts time and again how their gods proved faithless."

 Tomorrow: Where Is the Kingdom?